said to this effect that the Parliament had reposed a great trust in them for finding out the Authors of that Book and that the Councel were carefull to give a good accompt of their trust in order whereunto I had been called in and what I had said they had considered but they had now ordered him to ask me a question which was this Whether or no I had any hand in the making or compiling of this Book holding the Book in his hand To which after a little while I answered to this effect That I could not but very much wonder to be asked such a question howsoever that it was very much against my judgment and conscience to answer to questions of that nature which concern'd my self that if I should answer to it I should not only betray my own liberty but the liberties of all English-men which I could not do with a good conscience And that I could not but exceedingly grieve at the dealing I had found that day that being one who had been alwaies so faithfull to the Parliament and so well known to most of the Gentlemen there present that neverthelesse I should be sent for with a party of horse and foot to the affrighting of my family and ruine of my credit and that I could not be satisfied but that it was very hard measure to be used thus upon suspicion only professing that if they did hold me under restraint from following my businesse and occasions it might be my undoing which I intreated might be considered Then the President said I was to answer the question and that they did not ask it as in way of triall so as to proceed in judgment thereupon but to report it to the House To which I said that I had answered it so as I could with a good conscience and could make no other answer so I was put forth a back way as Mr Lilburn had been and where he was After this they cal'd in Mr Overton and after him Mr Prince using the very same expressions and question to all alike and so we were all four together and after a long expectance we found we were committed Prisoners to the Tower of London for suspicion of high treason where now we are to the great rejoycing of all that hate us whose longing desires are so far satisfied And to make good that face of danger which by sending so many horse and soot was put upon it a strong Guard hath ever since been continued at Darby house when the Councel sits And now again fresh aspersions and reproaches are let loose against us and by all means I that never was beyond the Seas nor ever saw the Sea must be a Jesuite and am reported to be now discovered to be born in Spain That because I am an enemy to sâ— â—â—tition therfore they give out I intend to destroy all Religion and which I never heard 〈◊〉 now that I desire to have all the 〈◊〉 in England burnt that I value Heathen Authors above the Scriptures 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 know me can testifie how though I esteem many other good Book 〈◊〉 well yet I ever prefer'd the Scriptures and I have alwaies maintainâ—â—â— that Reason and Philosophy could never have discovered peace and reconciliation by Christ alone noâ— do teach men to love their enemies doctrines which I prize more then the whole world It seems I am used so ill that except by aspersions I be â—â—â—de the vilest man in the world it will be thought I cannot deserve it And though I were yet living under a civil Government as I hope I ever shall do and not under a Military I cannot discern how such dealing could be justified For admit any one should have a mind to accuse me oâ— treason the party accusing ought to go to some Justice of the Peace dwelling in the County or hundred and to inform the â—act which if the Justice find to be against the expresse law and a crime of treason and that the accuser make oath of his knowledge of the fact then the Justice may lawfully give out a Warrant to be served by some Constable or the like civil Officer to bring the party accused before him or some other Justice wherein the party accused is at liberty to go to what Justice of Peace he pleaseth and as the matter appeareth when the parties are face to face before a Justice with a competent number of friends about him to speak in his behalf as they see cause his house being to be kept open for that time then the Justice is to proceed as Laws directeth as he will answer the contrary at his perill being responsible to the party and to the Law in case of any extra-judiciall proceeding and the Warrant of attachment and commitment ought to expresse the cause of commitment in legall and expresse tearms as to the very fact and crime and to refer to the next Goal delivery and not at pleasure Whereas I was fetcht out of my bed by souldiers in an hostile manner by a Warrant expressing no fact that was a crime by any law made formerly but by a Vote of the House past the very day the Warrant was dated Nor was I carried to a Justice of the Peace much lesse to such a one as I would have made choyce of where my Accuser if any was to appear openly face to face to make oath of fact against me if any were but before a Councel of State where I saw no Accuser face to face nor oath taken nor my friends allowed to be present nor dores open but upon a bare affirmation that the Councel was informed that I had a hand in compiling a Book the title nor matter whereof was not mentioned in any law extant whereas treason by any law is neither in words nor intents but in deeds and actions expresly written totidem verbis in the law And after being reqâ—â—red to answer to a question against my self in a matter avouched by Vote of Parliament to be no lesse then Treason was committed Prisoner not to a common County prison nor for the time referred to the next Goal delivery by the ordinary Courts of Justice my birthright but to the Tower of London during pleasure preferred to be tryed by the upper Bench whereas treason is triable only in the County where the fact is pretended to be committed All which I have laboured with all the understanding I have or can procure to make appear to be just and reasonable but cannot as yeâ— find any satisfaction therin being clear in my judgment that a Parliament may not make the people lesse free then they found them but ought at least to make good their liberties contained in Magna Charta the Petition of Right and other the good Laws of the Land which are the best evidences of our Freedoms Besides I consider the consequence of our Sufferings for in like manner any man or woman in England is liable to be fetcht from the farthest parts of the Land
Councâ—â— of State I that might have been â—eâ—cht by the least intimation of their desire to speak with me was sent for by Warrant under Sergeant Bradshaw's hand backt with a strong paâ—â—y of horse and foot commanded by Adjutant Generall Stubber by deputation from Sir Hardâ—esse Waller and Colonel Whaley who placing his souldiers in the allyes houses and gardens round about my house knockt violently at my garden gate between four and five in the morning which being opened by my maid the Adjutant Generall with many souldiers entred and immediately disperst themselves about the garden and in my house to the great terror of my Family my poor maid comming up to me crying and shivering with news that Souldiers were come for me in such a sad distempered manner for she could hardly speak as was sufficient to have daunted one that had been used to such sudden surprisals much more my Wife who for two and twenty years we have lived together never had known me under a minutes restraint by any Authority she being also so weakly a woman as in all that time I cannot say she hath enjoyed a week together in good health and certainly had been much more astrighted but for her confidence of my innocence which fright hath likewise made too deep an impression upon my eldest Daughter who hath continued sick ever since my Children and I having been very tender one of another Nor were my neighbours lesse troubled for me to whose love I am very much obliged The Adjutant Generall immediately followed my maid into my Chamber as I was putting on my clothes telling me that he was sent by the Councel of State an Authority which he did own to bring me before them I askt for what cause he answered me he did not understand particularly but in the notion of â—â— it was of a very high nature I askt him if he had any warrant he answered he had and that being drest I should seeâ—t The Souldiers I perceived very loud in the garden and I not imagining then there had been more disperst in my neighbours grounds and houses and being willing to preserve my credit a thing sooner bruised then made whole desired him to cause their silence which he courteously did Then I told him if he had known me in any measure he would have thought himself without any souldiers sufficient to bring me before them That I could nor but wonder considering how well I was known that I should be sent for by Souldiers when there was not the meanest civil Officer but might command my appearance That I thought it was a thing not agreeable to that freedom and liberty which had been pretended That now he saw what I was I should take it as a favour that he would command his Souldiers off which he did very friendly reserving some two very civil Gentlemen with him so being ready he shewed mâ— the Warrant the substance whereof was for suspicion of treason in being suspected to be the Author of a Book entituled The second part of Englands new Chains discovered I desired him to take a Copy of it which was denied though then and afterwards by my self and Lieut. Col. John Lilburn who was likewise in the same Warrant importuned very much for Then I went out with him into Moor-Fields and there I saw to my great wonder a great party of souldiers which he commanded to march before and went with me only with another Gentleman at a great distance to Pauls yet such people as were up took so much notice of it as it flew quickly all about the Town which I knew would redound much to my prejudice in my credit which was my only care the times being not quallified for recovery of bruises in that kind In Pauls Church-yard was their rendezvous where I was no sooner come but I espied my Friends Mr Lilburn and Mr Prince both labouring to convince the souldiers of the injury done unto us and to themselves and to posterity and the Nation in us in that they as souldiers would obey and execute commands in seizing any Freeman of England not Members of the Army before they evidently saw the civil Magistrates and Officers in the Common-wealth were resisted by force and not able to bring men to legall trials with very much to that purpose and in my judgment prevailed very much amongst them many looking as if they repented and grieved to see such dealings Then they removed to a house for refreshment where after a little discourse we perswaded them to release two of Mr Davenish his sons whom a Captain had taken into custody without Warrant but that kind of errour being laid fully open they were enlarged with much civility which I was glad to see as perceiving no inclination in the present Officers or Souldiers to defend any exorbitant proceedings when this understood them to be such So the Adjutant Generall sent off the whole party and with some very few took us by water to his Quarters at Whitehall where after a while came in Mr Overton the Adjutant intending about nine of the clock to go with us to Darby house But the Councel not sitting till five at night we were kept in his Quarters all that time where some but not many of our friends that came to visit us were permitted About five a clock the Councel sate so he took us thither where we continued about two houres before any of us were called in and then Mr Lilburn was called and was there about a quarter of an hour and then came out to us and his Friends declaring at large all that had past between him and them Then after a little while I was called in and directed up to Sergeant Bradshaw the President who told me that the Parliament had taken notice of a very dangerous Book full of sedition and treason and that the Councel was informed that I had a hand in the making or compiling thereof that the Parliament had referred the enquiry and search after the Authors and Publishers to that Councel and that I should hear the Order of Parliament read for my better satisfaction so the Order was read containing the substance of what the President had delivered and then he said by this you understand the cause wherfore you are brought hither and then was silent expecting as I thought what I would say But the matter which had been spoken being only a relation I kept silence expecting what further was intended which being perceived the President said You are free to speak if you have any thing to say to it to which I said only this I do not know why I am suspected Is that all said he To which I answered Yes and then he said You may withdraw So I went forth And then Mr Overton and after him Mr Prince were called in and after all four had been out a while Mr Lilburn was called in again and put forth another way and then I was called in again And the President
that I am a Pentioner to some forraign State which indeed is most falle and is invented for the end as all the rest are to make me odious And truly if men were not grown past all shame or care of what they said or heard of me it would be impossible to get belief for which way doth it appear I think nay am sure that in my house no man bred in that plenty I was ever contented himself with lesse which is easily known and for the apparell of my self my Wife and Children if it exceed in any thing it is in the plainesse where with we are very well satisfied and so in houshold stuff and all other expenses and for my charge upon publique voluntary occasions I rather merit a charitable construction from those I have accompanied with then any thanks or praise for any extraordinary disbursments and I am sure I go on soot many times from my house to Westminster when as I see many inferiour to me in birth and breeding only the favorites of the times on their stately horses and in their coaches and when I have been amongst my Friends in the Army as many times I have had occasion I must ever acknowledge that I have received amongst them ten kindnesses for one and yet not to wrong my self I think nay am sure there is not a man in the world that is of a more free or thankfull heart and have nothing else to bear me up against what good and worthy men whom I have seen in great necessities might conjecture of me when as I have administred nothing to relieve them when was the time and where the place I gave dinners or suppers or other gifts For shame thou black-mouth'd slander hide thy head till the light of these knowing times be out all that thou canst do is not sufficient to blast me amongst those with whom I converse or who have experience of my constancy in affection endeavour to the generall good of all men but to thy greater torment vexation know this they that entirely love me for the same are exceedingly increased and many whom thou hadst deceived return daily manifesting their greater love to me and the publique as willing to recompence the losse of that time thou deceivedst them And this imprisonment which thou hast procured me for my greater and irrecoverable reproach amongst good men thy poyson'd heart would burst to see how it hath wrought the contrary so far as I never had so clear a manifestation of love and approbation in my life from sincere single-hearted people as now to my exceeding joy I find And possibly for time to come these notorious falshoods with which the slanderous tongue hath pursued me may have the same effect upon these weak people thou makest thy instruments which they have had upon me and that is That I am the most backward to receive a report concerning any mans reputation to his prejudice of any man in the world and account it a basenesse to pry into mens actions or to listen to mens discourses or to report what I judge they would not have known as not beseeming a man of good and honest breeding or that understands what belongs to civil society But leaving these things which I wish I had had no occasion to insist upon it will concern me to consider the condition I am in for though I know nothing of crime or guilt in my self worthy my care yet considering how and in what an hostile manner I was sent for out of my bed and house from my dear Wife and Children the sense of that force and authors of my present imprisonment shewing so little a sencibility or fellow-feeling of the evils that might follow upon me and them by their so doing it will not be a misse for me to view it in the worst cullers it can bear As for the booke called The second part of Englands new chaines discovered for which Lieut. Col. John Lâ—lburn Mr Prince Mr Overton and my self are all questioned it concernes me nothing at all farther then as the matter therein contained agreeth or disagreeth with my judgement and my judgement will work on any thing I read in spight of my heart I cannot judge what I please but it will judge according to its owne peâ—ceverance And to speake my conscience having read the same before the Declaration of Parliament was abroad I must professe I did not discerne it to deserve a censure of those evils which that Declaration doth import but rather conceived the maine scope and drift thereof tended to the avoiding of all those evils and when I had seen and read the Declaration I wished with all my heart the Parliament had been pleased for satisfaction of all those their faithfull friends who were concerned therein and of the whole Nation in generall To have expresly applied each part of the boâ—k to each censure upon it as to have shewed in what part it was false scandalous and reproachfull in what seditious and destructive to the present Government especially since both Parliament and Aâ—mâ— and all wel affected people have approved of the way of settlement of our Government by an Agreement of the People Also that they had pleased to have shewed what part sentence or matter therein tended to division and mutiny in the Army and the raising of a new War in the Common-wealth or wherein to hinder the relief of Ireland and continuing of Free quarter for certainly it would conduce very much to a contentfull satisfaction to deal gently with such as have been friends in all extremities and in such cases as these to condescend to a fair corespondency as being willing to give reasons in all things to any part of the people there being not the least or most inconsiderable part of men that deserve so much respect as to have reason given them by those they trust and not possitively to conclude any upon meeâ—e votes and resolutions and in my poor opinion had this course been taken all along from the beginning of the Parliament to this day many of the greatest evils that have besalne had been avoided the Land ere this time had been in a happy and prosperous condition There being nothing that maintaines love unity and friendship in families Societies Citties Countries Authorities Nations so much as a condescention to the giving and hearing and debating of reason And without this what advantage is it for the people to be and to be votâ—d the Supreme power it being impossible for all the people to meet together to speak with or dâ—bate things with thâ—ir Representative and then if no part be considerable but only the whole or if any men shall be reckoned slightly of in respect of opinions estates poverty cloathes and then one sort shall either be heard before another or none shall have reasons given them except they present things pleasing the Supreme power the People is a pittifull mear helplesse thing as under School-masters being in